There’s a big difference between crossing the border from Mexico to USA and crossing the border from USA to Mexico.

If you are crossing the border by land for Mexico, you just walk across without the need to present your passport to Mexican customs. You don’t need to present your valid passport going to Mexico unless you are travelling more than 12-18 miles from the US-Mexico border into Mexico. Of course, if you are Flying into Mexico, you need a passport just like any international travel.

If you crossing back to the US from Mexico by land, you need to present a valid Passport Book, Passport Card or Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL):

For complete information about requirements to apply for a US passport, visit the following State Department Website.

The State Department explicitly says you need a passport.

Still, some Mexico dental travelers risk it with a driver’s license and a birth certificate. By law, the border agents can’t turn you away if you are a lawful American citizen or if you have valid entry into the US. It will just take longer to cross back into the US because you will undergo secondary verification.

Some Passport Acceptance Facilities advice that you can present your receipt of application for a US passport and your driver’s license for entry back to the US.

Our advice when crossing the border to Mexico is to plan ahead and get a Passport. This will ensure a hassle-free trip to a Mexico. 

The U.S./Mexico border remains open to medical-related travel. Dental treatment is considered medical, so our patients continue to travel to Mexico for essential dental work. To keep informed on the status of the border and read about travel restrictions, click this link.

As of now, the requirement for proof of a negative COVID-19 test to reenter the U.S. as set forth by the CDC is enforced for international flights but not land border-crossings ports. This means our patients continue to cross the border to Juárez, Mexico from El Paso, Texas and reenter to US without getting a COVID test or proof of vaccination.

Even before the COVID period, the doctors in Rio Grande Dental adhere to precautions outlined by CDC infection control standards, we also implemented new safety protocols:

Pre-Screening – A member of our team will be contacting all patients who have scheduled appointments with a few questions about their current health status and potential exposure to COVID-19. These same questions will be asked again when patients arrive at our office.

Facial Coverings – In keeping with local health guidelines, we require all visitors to arrive at our office with a face mask or covering that fully covers the nose, mouth, and chin.

Hand Sanitizer – We will have alcohol-based hand sanitizer available upon arriving at our office, and we request that all visitors use it upon entry. Hand sanitizer is also located in various areas around the office that you are free to use at any time.

Restrictions to Office Entry – We ask that patients arrive at our office alone, without friends or others accompanying them, so that we can limit the number of people in the office environment at one time.

Contact-Free Temperature Checks – A member of our team will be conducting contact-free temperature checks upon arrival at our office.

More Frequent Disinfection Protocols – Our office has always taken precautions to ensure the environment is as clean and sterile as possible. We have enhanced these measures even further and are frequently disinfecting commonly touched surface areas in the lobby and restroom with EPA-registered disinfectants.

PPE Standards – Our office will be utilizing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols during treatment.

Pre-Procedural Mouthrinse – All patients will be required to use a hydrogen peroxide-based oral rinse prior to treatment.

Cold Fogging – The office is disinfected utilizing an Ultra-Low Volume Cold Fogger with an advanced hypochlorous solution used in many hospitals to assure airborne and surface disinfection and sterilization.

Minimizing Aerosols – Our Dental Hygiene team is utilizing high-volume intraoral aspiration to minimize aerosols in the office.

Removal of Non-Essential Items in the Office Environment – Magazines, books, and other types of non-essential items are quite challenging to consistently clean and disinfect, so we have temporarily removed them from the entire office.

Staggered Appointments – We will be strategically staggering appointments to allow for more time between patient visits. This should not only reduce waiting periods, but also minimize the number of patients in the office and reception area at one time.

Private transportation-the vehicles are completely sanitized after each trip. 

and entire teams has received the COVID-19 vaccination.